Variable-speed mechanism.



P. N. RAMSEY. VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1904.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

h m V m, M M w w M/ w a S M 5 r B m. 1 m z a P. N. RAMSEY. VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1904. Patented Feb. 16,

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- PETERN'; RAMSEY; OFNEW Year; in Y;

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented FebIIG', 1909.

Application filed January 13, 1904. Serial No. 188,822.

To' oflwhom it mwy concern:

Be it known that I, N. RAMSEY, a

of. the United States, residing at New city, connty of New York, and State off-New York, have invented certain new useful'lmprovements' 'in- Variable-Speed Mechanism, fully described and represented the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming apart of the same.

This invention relates; to fluid controlled driving mechanisms for driving one shaft or other paii't from another, so that the speed of thedriven part may be varied or the drivenneniber stopped while the speed of 'the driv ln'gi' niember-remains constant, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, cili-v cient and durable mechanism of this class;

" For a full understandingof the invention, adetailed description of a construction em;- bodying all the features of the invention in their preferred form-will now be given-in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and the features of the invention will then be particularlypointed out in'the'claims.

1 .Inthedrawings -rFigure 1 isan' end view looking to theright in Fig. .4, on' a smaller scale.v Fig. 2 is-a section taken just inside thepinions and 'gearin Fig; 4:, looking to:

tlieright, on the same scale as Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a'cross-sectio'n, on line? of Fig. 4, Fig.

l isa section on the line 4 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5, fi-and 7 are-detail views, Fig. 5 being a viewpartially in section on line 5" of Fig. 1.

Referring now, to, the drawlngsand es pecially Figs. 2, 3' and 4, A is a driving shaft driven by any suitable outside power, B a part of the shaft being driven, the part shown being one member of a universal joint. suitable means-whereby the oper-.

ating mechanism is carried may beem-.

ployed. In the preferred form of construction and as shown, however, a fly wheel C is-provided mounted on the driving shaft A.:.

This fly wheel has secured to it in any'suit able manner, preferably. by bolts or studs" D. a casing E which forms a chamberF adapted for the reception of'the; controlling I fluid, which is preferably a liquid, although ncompressible fluid maybe used. Sec-ured toor formed integral with the casing E 1s.

a second inner casing G mounted preferably concentrically with the outer casing. This second or inner casing G- may be of any suitaieli'' for convenience" andstr ength fluid. pumping means. preferably cylinders L'these cylinders being provlded w th plungers M suitably secured to eccentrics K. mounted on the studs D.

it, ispreferably made octagonal as shown. Th s casing forms a second chamber H into WlllCll the liquid or other fluid ispumpe'd from chamber F. i

- Secured in'the casing Gare any suitable These means are whichare', as before stated, secured'to the fly wheel C. These plungers (see Fig. 3), are provided at their bottoms with inlet valves 2 and the cylinders in which the vplungers are carried. are provided at their .tobe jdriven. As the fly wheel 0 rotates with thestudsD and the eccentrics K and pinions 4, these pinions 4 rotate -.about the studs D when the eccentrics on the hub of 'whic'h'they are secured are free to turn, but when the eccentrics are held from turning 'the-pinions can not turn' on thestuds D, and

thus are locked to the gear 5 and rotate the latter-to drive the shaft B.

The eccentrics and 'pinions are held against rotation: on studs Dlby holding the plungers M against movement, for which there are "provided valve supports 6 secured to the easing .G in'any' suitable manner, these valve supports carrying valves 7 and 7 opening into" the chamber H. which valves, when closed, prevent the passage of any of the liquid in the chamber H into the chamberF and'when open allow the liquid-or fluid 1n the chamber H to pass into the chamber F.

,These' valves are normally closed by springs and the pressure in chamber H. I

."A'ny suitable number. of plungers and valvesmay beemployed. Preferably and as shown in the drawings-, however, there are four cylinders Icarrying four plungers M, and four valves/Z and These valves:7 and -7 are preferablyof different sizes, the

two valves 17 being comparatively. small and the twofvalves-T being considerably larger, the area of; the'evalvesfi 7 and? being, however, greater than the combined area of the valves 3 of the cylinders I. By this arrangement of valves of different sizes, the area of all being greater than the area of the valves of the cyllnders, a widely varying degree of pressure in the liquid container in the'inner chamber H can be obtained. These valves 7 and 7 are opened by the following mechanism, with which each of the valves is provided: An arm 8 is carried inside the casing E on rock shaft 9. This arm rests on the upper end of a valve stem 6 The rock shaft 9 also carries at its outer end arm' 10 (see Fig. 1) which has secured to it in any suitable manner a rod 11 which carries at its lower end a cam roller 11 which engages one of two cam surfaces 12 and 13 (Figs. 1 and 7). These cam surfaces are formed on a sleeve 14 mounted on driving shaft A. This sleeve 14 is splined on the shaft to revolve .with the shaft and atthe same time to permit its sliding freely back and forth thereon and is held on the shaft in any suitable manner, as by sleeve 14*. This sleeve 14 is moved backand forth on the driving shaft A by any suitable shifting lever or other shifting means to bring the cam surfaces 12 and 13 into engagement with the cam rollers 11 \Vhen-these rollers are thus in engagement with the cam surfaces, the rollers riding up on the cam surfaces force the rods 11 outward, which in turn lift the arms 10 and press down the arms 8 on the rock shafts 9. The arms 8 force down the valve stems 6 andopen the valves 7 and 7 against the pressure of the springs 6*, thereby allowing the fluid in chamber H to pass into the chamber F. Vhen the sleeve 14 is moved backward on the shaft A and the cams out of engagement with the cam rollers 11", the pressure on the valve stems (his removed and the valves are closed by the action of the'springs 6".

The cam rollers 11 of the smaller valves 7" are operated by the cam surfacesv 13 and the cam rollers 11 of the larger valves 7 by the cam surfaces 12. These cam surfaces have different degrees of incline and are so positioned that the cam surfaces 13 are moved into engagement with the cam rollers which operate the smaller set of valves 7* before the cam surfaces 12 come into engagement with the cam rollers operatingthe larger set of valves 7. By this means a small amount of liquid or fluid is first allowed to escape from the inner chamber H through the valves 7, which amount depends on the distance the valves 7 are opened by the movement of the cams 13, and then, if desired, after the valves 7 are fully opened, the valves 7 may be opened by the further movement of sleeve 14.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: 'hen the driven member B is to be driven at the same rate of speed as the driving member, the cams 12 and 13 are retracted, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and G. The fly wheel C rotated by the driving shaft A from any suitable outside power carries around with it the studs D and the eccentrics K mounted thereon and the pinions l secured to the hubs of the eccentrics. In this position, the valves 7 and 7 being closed and the chamber H filled with fluid, the phnigers M in the cylinders I cannot operate against the pressure of the fluid in the chamber II, as no fluid can be forced from that chamber into the chamber F, so that the plungers can have no up and down movement, and the eccentrics, therefore, cannot turn around the studs D, and consequently the pinions -l geared on the hubs of the eccentric cannot turn and are locked in engagement with the gear wheel 5 and turn this gear wheel and the driven member B connected thereto at the same speed at which the driving member A which carries the pinions 1 is driven. \Yhen it is desired to operate the shaft B at a less speed from that of the shaft A, the sleeve 11 is shifted on the shaft A so that the cam surfaces 13 come into engagement with the cam rollers which are connected with the small set of valves 7, thereby opening these valves as previously described and allowing a-small amount of fluid to escape from the chamber H into the chamber F, this fluid being forced out by the pressure oftlie plungers M in the cylinders I. The plungers M then may move under a resistance depending on the amount the valves 7 are opened, and the pinions will operate to rotate the gear 5 with an amount of relative movement or rotation between the pinions 4' and gear 5 depending on the relation of theresistance to the movement of the plunger s to the load on the driven member B. The speed of member B will be varied from the speed of shaft according to the relative movement of rotation of the pinions 4 permitted, which is controlled by the extent to which the valves 7 are opened. The cam surfaces 13 as shown in the drawings are so formed as to permit of any desired amount of fluid being forced through the small set of valves 7,-thcreb v varying the speed produced in the shaft 15 to any desired extent, the speed of the driving shaft remainingthe same. \Yhenit i desired to stop the shaft B altogether the sleeve 14 is forced in farther and cam surfaces 12 are brought into engagement with the cam rollers 11 connected to the large set of valves 7 which are thereby opened as previously described. The valves 7 having already been opened and the total area of valves 7 and 7 being greater than the area ofthe valves 3 of the pumping cylinders I. all the fluid which is forced into the chamber H by the plungers M can escape through ithe valves 7 and .7, and the fluid will be hers, substantially all resistance to the move,-- ment of lungers M. thus being removed, and the pinions 4 being permitted to rotate. freely as they are carried about gear 5. The pinions willthen simply revolve around thegear wheel 5 and no rotation of the driven member B result. h

It will be understoodthat I am not to be limited to the specific construction shown, but thatmany modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of theparts without departing from the invention defined by the claims. The invention is illustrated as applied to a mechanism suitable for automobil es, for which it is admirably adapted, but it will be understood that the, invention is of general application in driving,- mechanisms, and that the form and. arrange mentof the parts in which the invention is. embodied-will varyfwith the use made of the invention. V

What I claim is 1.. .The combination with a driving and a driven member, of a gear carried by and r0- ta-tin with one member, a second gear carried y the other member and mounted on said other 'member to revolve around or with the fii'st mentioned gear and to rotate on its own axis, a pumping plunger operated by the rotation of said second gear, and means for opening and closing the outlet of the pumping plunger to control the rotation of said. second gear duringits revolution.

2; The combination with a .driving andja driven member; of a gear earned by and rotating with one of the members, a second gear carried by the other -me1nher and mounted on' saidv other member to revolve around or with the first mentioned ear and to'rotate on its own' axis, a pumpmg plunger operated by the rotation of said second gear, and valve devices adjustable to control the delivery of theflpumping plunger to. vary the resistance torotation of said second gear during its revolution. I

3. The combination with a driving and a driven member, of intermeshinggears carriedby said members, one-of said gears being" carried byand rotating with one of the members and the other gear being carried by the other member and mounted on said other member 'to revolve around" the first mentioned gear and to rotate on itsaxis, a pumping plunger connected to one of said gears to reciprocatewhen the gear rotates,

-.and means for enlarging andcoiitracting the outlet of'the pumping plunger to vary I the speed of rotation ofsaid gear. connected to" the pumping-plunger during its revolu tion.

4. The combination with a driving and a driven; member, o'fia gear carried by and rotating: w-itlioneeof said members, 'aseries of gears carried: the other member. and:

mounted onisai'dg ether member to revolve around the first mentioned gear and mm mounted onsaid other member to revolve about the first mentioned gear and to rotate on-theiraxes, a casing moving with said series of gears and having two fluid chamhas, a serlesof pumping plungers connected to said series of gears to reciprocate when the gears rotate and acting to pump fluid from one of said chambers into the other,

valves controlling the delivery of fluid by the pumping plunger-s, and means for opening and closing said valves forcontrolling the rotation of the-series of gears during theirrevolution.

- 6. The combination with a driving and a driven member, of a gear carried'by and rotating with one of. said. members, a series of gears carried by the other member and mounted on said other member to revolve-- about the first mentioned gear and to rotate bers, a seriesof'p'umpi-ngplungers connected to said series: of gears to reciprocate when:

the gearsrotate and acting to pump finite-10d on their axes, a casing; moving with said series of gears andhavlngtwofimd chain;

tion of the series of gears during their revow lution.

7 The combination with a' driving and a.

driven member, of a gear carried byandrotating-with one of said members, a series of gears carried by theother member and mounted tofrevol've about. the first men tioned gear, andtorotate on their axes, a casing moving with said series of gears and having two fluidchambers, a series of pumping plungers connected to said series of gears to reciprocate when the gears rotate and acting to pump fluid from one of'said chambers into theot-her," valves controlling the delivery offluid by the'pumping plungers, and a cam and connections for actuating said valves to control the rotationot the mounted'to. revolveabout the first men- .tionedgear and to rotate on their axes, a.

casing moving with saidseries of gears and having two fluid chambers, a series of pumping plungers connected to said series of gears to reciprocate when the gears rotate and acting to pump fluid from one of '1 said chambers into the other, a plurality of Valves for controlling the delivery of fluid ,bythe pumping plungers, and a plurality fof cams and connections for opening some 1:01 all of said valves to controlthe rotation 1 of the series of gears during their revolution.

9. Thecombination with a driving and a driven member, of a gear carried by and Pi tating with one of said members, a series of gears carried by the other member and mounted to revolve about the first mentioned gear and to rotate on their axes, a fcasing'moving with said series of gears and having two fluid chambers, a series of pumping plungers connected to said series of gears to reciprocate when the gears rotate and acting to pump fluid from one of said chambers into the other, a plurality of valves of different dimensions controlling the delivery of the pumping plungers, and a cam carrier and connections for opening some or all of the valves to control the rotation of the series of gears during their revolution, said cam carrier being provided with cams adapted to open the larger valves only on a further movementafter opening the smaller valves.

10. The combination of driving and driven members, casing E having fluid chambers F, H, and carried by one of said members, pumping plungers M, eccentrics K for operating said plungers, pinions t carried by casing E and rotating with the eccentrics,

ear 5 on the other member with which pin- 1ons 4t mesh, and adjustable valve devices for controlling the delivery of fluid by said pumping plungers from one chamber to the other, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a driving mem- 1. her and a driven member, of fluid containing devices carried on one of said members,

mechanism operated by one of said members to cause the fluid to flow in said fluid containing devices, means for controlling the flow of the fluid in said fluid containing devices, and connections between saiddriving member and said driven, member adapted to be thrown into and maintained in different degrees of operative connection by controlling the flow of the fluid in said fluidcontaining devices, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a shaft, a rotatable member journaled thereon. and fluid containing devices carried on said rotatable member, of mechanism operated by said rotatable member to cause the fluid to flow in said fluid containing devices, means for controlling the flow of the fluid in said fluid containing devices, and connections between said shaft and said rotatable member adapted to be thrown into and maintained in different degrees of operative connection by controlling the flow of the fluid in said fluid containing devices, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a shaft, a gear secured to said shaft, a rotatable member journaled on said shaft, and driving mechanism, of gears rotatably mounted on said rotatable member and meshing with the gear on said shaft, fluid containing devices connected with said gears on said rotatable member, and means for braking said gears and throwing said shaft and said rotatable member into and'maintaining them in clifferent degrees of operative connectign by' checking the free passage ofsaid fluid through said fluid containing devices, substantially as described,

14. The combination with a shaft, a gear secured to said shaft, a rotatable member journaled on said shaft, and means for driving said rotatable member, of gears, rotatably mounted on said rotatable member and meshing with the gear on said shaft, fluid containing devices connected with said gears on said rotatable member, and means for braking said gears and throwing said shaft and said rotatable member into and maintaining them in different degrees of operative connection by checking-the free passage of said fluid through said fluid containing devices, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a shaft, a gear secured to said shaft, a rotatable member journaled on said shaft, and means for driving said rotatable member, of gears rotatably mounted on said rotatable member and meshing with the gear on said shaft, fluid containing devices connected with said gears on said rotatable member, means operated by said gears to force'the fluid back and forth in said fluid containing devices as said gears rotate, and means for throwing said shaft and said rotatable member into and maintaining them in different degrees of operative connection by checking the free passage of said fluid through said fluid containing devices, substantially as described.

16. In a speed (hanging device, the combination with the driving and driven elements, of a planetary transmission element forming a connection therebetween, a fluid brake adapted to act upon said planetary transmission element, means for controlling the fluid therein to vary the. action of the brake upon said planetary element and means for holding said controlling means in desired positions of adjustment.

17. In a speed changing device, the combination with the driving and driven elements, of a planetary transmission element forming a connection therebetween, a revoluble cyllnder and piston, a connection between one of saidelements and the planetary transmission element, whereby rotation of the planetary transmission element will cause relative movement between the piston and cylinder, a fluid container communicating With said cylinder, means for controlling the flow of fluid between the container 10 and cylinder, and means for holding said controlling means in desired positions of ad- 3 ustment.

PETER N. RAMSEY.

Witnesses:

C. J SAWYER, T. F. KEHOE. 

